Author: Mike Shubic
Finland fascinates; winter activities thrill
I’ve been to Europe several times, but my recent trip to Finland was the first to a Nordic or Scandinavian country. I have lived most of my life in the Southwest of the U.S. and have little experience with winter activities, however several had been on my bucket list…such as...
Read moreSadness in Seattle
I made it to Seattle yesterday and have been going through some of my father's things with my step-mother and sister. It's been an emotional time, and, to be honest, I'm looking forward to this chapter being over. Link to previous Road Diary entry. The burial is tomorrow and a...
Read moreHeading to Seattle to say goodbye
If you follow me closely, you know that a few weeks ago my father passed away. Needless to say, it has been a difficult time. My dad was not interested in a funeral, so the family is getting together this week for a memorial celebration. When I found out my...
Read moreCozy Cactus: Not fancy…just fabulous
Cozy Cactus is a wonderful bed and breakfast located in the Village of Oak Creek, not far from Sedona, Arizona. Heading north on Hwy 179 toward Sedona, the landscape is similar to that of the drive from Phoenix. However, just a few miles after you round a bend in the...
Read moreIt’s a very, very sad day…
It is a very sad day for me and my family. After battling and recovering from prostrate cancer, then trying to fight lung cancer, my father lost that battle this morning around 1am. I just learned of my father's lung cancer a couple months ago when he told me he...
Read moreSKY: luxurious Lappish cuisine with a view
On my last evening in the Lapland capital of Rovaniemi, I was looking for a really nice place to enjoy one last Lappish meal before my departure. I asked a number of the locals which restaurant they thought I should try; nearly all said, “SKY Restaurant.” SKY is located at...
Read moreThis is what it’s like to go on the Sampo Icebreaker Cruise
Have you ever wondered what it's like to go on an icebreaker cruise? While visiting Kemi, Finland in the northern part of the country, I had an opportunity to go on the extraordinary Sampo Icebreaker cruise. The Sampo is the only icebreaker cruise in the world dedicated as a tourist...
Read moreAlchemy turns food into fun fare
Located in the San Diego community of South Park (just east of downtown) is a neighborhood restaurant the locals rave about, so I had to check it out for myself. Alchemy is a casual and slightly eclectic place serving up some interesting culinary fare and craft cocktails. The focal point...
Read moreArizona Renaissance Festival
The Arizona Renaissance Festival is is one of the largest such festivals in the nation. This year festival organizers are celebrating its 26th season, which runs from the beginning of February through the end of March. The 30-acre park is located just outside of Apache Junction, about 50 miles east...
Read moreKemi SnowCastle is downright cool
For years I've been enamored by the idea of a seasonal and temporary hotel made of snow and ice. I recently had an opportunity to visit one of the most well-known snow and ice structures in the world...the Kemi SnowCastle. While the unusually warm weather and overcast skies did not...
Read moreManitoba from 38,000 feet
As I flew across the skies from London en route to San Diego, I snapped this pic at 38,000 feet above the untouched natural beauty of Manitoba, Canada.
Read moreNili takes guests on Lappish culinary journey
Restaurant Nili in downtown Rovaniemi, Finland is a local staple that whisks guests away on a culinary journey by creating a dining experience that embodies the fresh ingredients from its Arctic region. The interior furnishings are traditional Lappish, with hand crafted materials such as reindeer horns, Lappish woods, and reindeer...
Read moreDinner in an igloo
I'm now in the northern part of Finland, in the Lapland capital of Rovaniemi, which is a community that apparently Santa Claus lives near. As a matter of fact, the Hotel Santa Claus (where I'm staying) is said to have hosted the jolly man on more than one occasion. This...
Read moreRestaurant Juuri serves fantasic Finnish experience
As a self-proclaimed "foodie," I absolutely love it when I discover a restaurant that can play a symphony for my taste buds, while at the same time exciting my other senses. During a trip to Helsinki, Finland, I had an opportunity to dine at Restaurant Juuri, an authentic European-feeling bistro...
Read moreAhnu Mendocino boot review
Last month I attended the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City where I was introduced to a shoe company I’d never heard of before…Ahnu Footwear. A majority of their shoes are for the ladies, but they have a handsome line for men as well, including a few hiking boots. ...
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